Residents urge Caledonia board to block village plan for Paul Henry Trail parking on school land

Several residents urged the Caledonia board to withhold approval for a proposed parking lot at the Paul Henry Trailhead that would use school-owned land at Kinsey and Main, calling it a safety hazard for students and a misuse of public funds.

"What is more parking? Is that one more space? 10 more spaces? 20? Apparently, it's 22 because that's what was discussed at the village council meeting," resident Sylvia Murphy said, asking for evidence that demand exceeds available street parking and noting safety risks where students would be brought into close proximity with moving vehicles.

Neighbor Jenna Weinsma said the design would create a hidden, unmonitored space and increase traffic on Main Street where students walk daily. "This parking lot is a safety hazard for students," she said and asked the board to stop allowing the village to use district land for a project she described as pushed forward without public transparency.

A local business owner, Mary Ann Timmer, said she recognized parking as an issue but argued other communities provide trailhead parking and that a well-designed, lit lot could improve safety and access for trail users and school events. Timmer cited examples of larger trailhead parking facilities in neighboring communities.

Speakers questioned whether the village's DNR passport grant application accurately reflected the lot's intended users and asked why school land would be used for merchant parking rather than trail users or students. The board did not vote on the project tonight; several commenters asked for greater public input and clearer justification of the project scope and design.